December 2020 Christmas Party Meeting via Zoom

 CHRISTMAS PARTY NOTES 22 December 2020

Attendees: Jennie, Liz, Kath, Andy, Sue, Adam, Martin, Marie and Santa Claus

Sue started the party with a Christmas carol she wrote called ‘Follow that Star.’ It was beautiful rendition and she sings much better than me. Sue said she has a piece to bring to the next meeting.

Jennie and Liz sang Jennie’s ‘A Vegetarian Celebration’’ written by Jennie.

We then had a rather difficult Christmas Quiz, matching books with Christmas in the title with their authors. Jennie and Liz won with 6 out of 9 closely followed by the others.

Adam read ‘The Snowflake’ which was an insightful self-description by a snowflake. I was able to imagine it from the description.

Kath sang ‘Rocking Around a Covid Christmas Tree,’ which was brilliant.

Liz told us of her own Christmas memories in Nigeria as if told to a grandchild.

It was about hosting an English Christmas dinner, with grandma responsible for providing the turkey which eventually arrived, walking into the house on Christmas Eve. It was appropriately ready for dinner the next day although had been chopped into chunks ‘for a stew’ and needed reassembling around the stuffing!

Kath sang a humorous song she wrote called ‘The Night Before Christmas’ re Elf and Safety, which had been taken up a few years ago by colleagues and managers.

Andy read a piece he had written ‘Christmas 2020, Covid comes to Town,’ which was fun and is a work in progress for the ending, so Andy, all the time you will have over Christmas, you can finish it and read it to us next month!

Martin played on his guitar a song he had composed ‘Lonely Christmas’ which was rather melancholy but excellent. Then a quick refrain of ‘Jingle Bells’ a la Elvis for Adam. Finally, the anniversary song he had composed for his wife for the anniversary. Really lovely.

Marie read about some Christmas traditions around the world including Angola and Mexico.

Liz read about the history of Christmas crackers which originated in England.

Jennie read ‘Boggle Lane and other matters’ from her memories of Christmas when she was very young living above the shop in Driffield, and the rather sad memories of her father’s deprived childhood.

Adam read ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ as could be written by Chevy Chase.

By this time Martin had disappeared, so he missed Santa Claus’s link from the North Pole. Santa was merry, probably from some beverages to warm him up in the far north. He told us that he hasn’t a naughty list this year as Tesco has said everyone is on the nice list. He bemoaned the IT revolution as wooden train sets are rarely asked for now; mainly electronic goods such as X-boxes (not to be confused with egg boxes), plus Flatten the Hedgehog. He explained that he manages to deliver gifts all around the world by Elf magic, which, unfortunately, can freeze Zoom meetings etc, however an elf professor thinks he can remedy that quickly. How to deliver without a chimney is due to a particle transporter.

Santa then read the story of a lonely man called Mr Grimblethorpe, who had few friends. However, his life changed when he met Charlie, a young girl, who offered him the loan of her teddy for Christmas dinner. The friendship developed but it was a while before it was revealed that Charlie was deaf.

Jennie sang a song composed by a friend who died five years ago, to a tune of ‘Come all Ye Faithful’ which was about an Italian called Giuseppe who said he was a waiter, however his new girlfriend was shocked and upset to find he was really Fred and worked in McDonalds. She took her revenge and he received his just desserts.

Martin reappeared and was upset he had missed Father Christmas. We were rather mean and didn’t tell him what he had missed, leaving him to find out in these notes. He tried to claim that it was he who had been Santa Claus, and described entertaining children via Zoom, dressed as Santa Claus.

Kath has promised to read her ‘Water – too cheap a commodity’ piece next time.

The next meeting will be via Zoom on WEDNESDAY 27^th January 2021 at 7.30 pm.

The homework is anything related to the environment.

Happy Christmas one and all

Marie Sever