Monthly Meeting - “The Best Things in the New Year are not Things, they are my Best Friends”

Tuesday 10 January

Anne Artis welcomed a packed hall to the first meeting of the new year, and we raised a glass of fizz to a great 2023! It has been a busy time since the last meeting and at the Federation Meeting Ruskie won the Trophy for best syllabus and Alison Smellie won the Maclay Trophy for best photograph of a wintry scene; Liz Elizabethg Dykes was commended in the West Lothian and Cath McByrne Trophies too! Ruskie members have had a cracker making workshop, and a trip to the panto and a Christmas Meal at Briarlands! We will be participating in the Thornhill Community Trust event for local groups on Saturday 25thFebruary from 10-2pm. Before that, on 24 January we will also meet together to discuss our possible summer adventure this year (probably travelling at the start of July) – we are also planning a visit to Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the Summer and Calendar Girls, at Gartmore in March. Anne reminded everyone of the preference for car sharing to maximise the car parking as the meetings get busier and busier!

Anne then introduced a medley of music from our guests to celebrate the new year! We heard from “Imperfect Pitch” - a trio of Isobel McGuire, Alison Lambie and Mary Dale – who until recently only practised outside in garages during covid so asked the audience to participate and cover up any “funny” notes! We enjoyed a mix of old favourites and new toe tappers and all joined in as requested! Marjorie then gave us po-yems ("Address to a steak pie" by Elias Harrison and "I wish I’d looked after me teeth" by Pam Ayers) making us all hungry for our supper! Jean MacDonald played familiar melodies on the piano, and Alison Smellie entertained us with her ukulele talents too! We enjoyed a supper of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, along with Liz Dykes famous Onion Sauce leaving only empty crock pots before announcing the competition winners and drawing the (extensive!) raffle.

Competitions

3 shortbread rounds (Mrs Parlane Trophy – Mrs Parlane was a fabulous baker and members reminisced about her truffles and Russian toffee!) 1st– Liz Black, 2nd – Allison McLeod, 3rd – Janice Oman

Scottish themed biscuit tin – 1st – Anne Artis, 2nd– Alison Smellie, 3rd – Jean Fergusson

As the meeting closed Jean accompanied us in a hilarious round of “Ye cannay shove yer granny aff a bus” before we finished with “Auld Lang Syne”. Anne closed the meeting thanking everyone who had worked so hard to make the night a success and wished all guests a safe journey home.