It was a Merry Christmas Party!

The year ended on a fitting note of jollity and fun for the club after a great year in terms of achievements, but a difficult one for many members who give so much time and expertise to Rotary and the causes it stands for.
     What follows is a bit of a pictorial re-invention of Friday night.

The festive table decorated with hydrangeas, in Afrikaans known as Christmas roses

     For the unlucky few who couldn't make it, the evening started with PP Graham Donet as Master of Ceremonies. Graham is no longer a member of the club, having left because of work reasons which no longer apply, so we cannily wish that he'll return to the fold sooner rather than later.
     The food was good, the wine flowed and for the 28 people there, lots of fun was had.

Graham at the podium

     Once everybody has paid, the takings for the night should be about R14000. Last year we managed R20000, but it was with ten more people and more lucrative auction items than this year.
     If you haven't paid yet, please do.
     Our starter was an excellent cold vichyssoise soup, courtesy of Judy Symons.
     After the starter Graham did the first presentation: a reading of The Return of Albert, being the follow-up to The Lion and Albert, the story of a young boy who got eaten by the lion at the Blackpool zoo, as performed by the British comedian Stanley Holloway. Graham had everybody in stitches.

The three carollers belting it out. In front of Graham is Jacquie Chemaly, wife of Carl Chemaly, who we hope will be joining Johannesburg New Dawn

     The main course was turkey and a leg of lamb, cooked by Graham and myself and expertly carved by Greg Smith and Julian Nagy. Julian and Debbie provided a dish of carrots and onion. Ian Widdop brought two perfectly roasted chickens and Lucille Blumberg paid for a salmon, even though she couldn't attend.
     Ian Widdop provided the next show, first giving a truly moving reading of TS Eliot's Journey of the Magi and then asking Graham and Debbie Nagy to join him in singing the Christmas Carol Once in Royal David's City. 
     Debbie was clearly taken by surprise by this impromptu request, but did her bit to create a Christmas glow with her singing.

Paul and Susan Kasango enjoying the evening

Robyn Widdop, Debbie Smith and Judy Sligcher share a moment

DG Jankees Sligcher and Carin Holmes

Ronnie Kasrils took time off from his busy book-signing schedule to be with us

John Vink was there with Greta Schuler, hiding amongst the flowers

Adriaen (now a member of Sandton Rotary) enjoying a moment with
 his dad, DG Jankees Sligcher 

Julian Nagy holding forth

Joan Donet with Carl and Jacquie Chemaly

Judy Symons and Debbie de Vries, two of the more recent members, but both very active in the club

Julian and Debbie Nagy get into the Christmas spirit

Greg Smith (turkey) and Julian Nagy (lamb) doing an expert job at carving

Graham and I each donated some Pinotage for the auction, Wildekrans 2003 and 2013 and Simonsig Red Hill Pinotage, an iconic South African wine   

     Dessert was courtesy of Carol Stier. Need I say more?

     The big surprise followed when Nick Stier sang a medley of Frank Sinatra songs with no backing music, and sang it extremely well. It was a brave and very satisfying performance and we'll definitely be looking to repeat it next year.
     With the auction we raised R4450 and went home happy that the year is over, but also happy at having spent an evening of fun with friends and Rotary colleagues. This is true fellowship in action.
     The evening was a reminder that the party was about Christmas and that Christmas is all about giving.