Christmas Night Out, 9/12/06
Having been at the cross country earlier in the day I was perhaps too tired and too sober to absorb the true meaning of Christmas. This year the venue was Murrayfield and though generally a happy evening it was perhaps notable that we, as a club, were not alone in the Hawthorn Suite. Partygoers from a number of concerns were introduced by the mumbling MC. It would appear that those from Arnold Clark had jump-started the wassailing earlier than the rest of us. Unperturbed, many of the other tables raced to catch up. By comparison our tables seemed positively decorous. One table took the direction to "Dance through the Decades" as a call for fancy dress, though they were by no means the most Bohemian. Without wishing to sound censorious I think we also led the room in style and couture. There were many examples (at other tables) of streetwalker chic and, strangely, often modelled by those in the “Bouncy Castle,” size range. (I borrow that phrase from an anonymous bearded source.) The high point of one poor soul's evening came when Miss Whiplash made an entrance looking to stripogram the birthdaying sixty year old. I was unable to watch the outcome as I was in the queue for dinner and didn't want to forfeit my appetite. The MC seemed to disregard the notion of dancing through the decades; or distributed the music (certainly from decades) in a non-chronological way. Early on a Dzihan & Kamien track hinted at a sophisticated play-list but pretty soon we were dancing round handbags to a more traditional fare. Towards the end of the evening many of our gathering had made considerable inroads on the Arnold Clark ethos, or at least in becoming as Christmassy as them. I think the photos reflect this. If anyone has any libellous tales to tell or muck to rake they can email me at the usual address. I'm afraid to report I stayed sufficiently sober to enjoy a bracing and windy run over Arthurs Seat the following day. In the past I would have been on the other side of the pint mug - racing to reduce my IQ as rapidly as possible. I must be getting old. Talking of old, David Edgar put in an appearance, in winter plumage, a rare visitor to these shores and other such ornithological chestnuts. With his grouchy ways and boyish looks (about 30 years younger than he actually is) I'd forgotten what a charmer he is. You should get that back seen to David and resume your place in the team! It was reported by another anonymous source that Mr. Brodie had begun the evening perhaps as early as Arnold Clark himself. Which would make sense. Ah the joys of Christmas..... cheers!
Doing the Fork
By the time we left not everyone was entirely sober
Here are some shots Louise took and kindly sent in....
Report pb
Photos Peter, Mary, others and Louise Patience
