Lunch with T&E, D&K

 

Emma, Toby, Joan, Krisie, Dan and Peter at lunchtime

Beech Road Lights

Rain, wind and sodden paths meant we didn't take the walks we intended, but this evening we took Dan and Krisie on a brief  walk through Ellis Fields at dusk. Many houses were decorated with lights,  like this one in Ellis Fields.

But none outshone the house in Beech Road, which again put on a display that cars stop to gaze at.

Christmas Day with Dan & Krisie

 

Xmas Postboxes

Again the clever knitters have decorated 82 St Albans' pillar boxes with festive tops. Here are just three of them

St Peter's Street

Sandridge Road

Sandridge Road (back)

The Quadrant - Post Office

The Quadrant - (back)

2019 Xmas boxes here

Probus Christmas Lunch

 

Probus 37th Annual Christmas lunch was held at Verulam Golf Club. Some people didn't book because of Covid, and the recent rapid rise of Omicron variant  leading to a Government recommendation to scale back one's social activities led others to cancel, but we still had 65 booked.

I chose the spiced carrot and lentil soup to start with and it was really enjoyable with a bite of chilli, then I had  traditional roast turkey.

There were two thick slices of turkey, which I couldn't finish. I'd have preferred more veg, but the meal was tasty.

Christmas pud, garnished with redcurrants, with brandy sauce was well presented but ordinary,

and there were mince pies and small cakes to follow with coffee and poppers.

I was responsible for choosing and sourcing wines. 

The white was

2021 Zalze Chenin Blanc Bush Vine (South Africa, Western Cape)

Terrific: dry but not acidic, fruit and balance and it went down a treat with those present.

and the red was

2020 Domaine Camp Galhan Cévennes Les Frigouliers (France, Languedoc, Cévennes)

100% Grenache; soft fruity drinkable. Another wine that charmed those gathered. It went well with roast turkey.

A bottle of each was on  every table and I had two bottles of both as top-up tables which ran out. Same as the summer lunch, red was more popular than white.

And to cap it all, the Chairman presented me with an award for my work as Speaker Secretary and then I won the raffle.

I wasn't the only one wearing an outstanding jacket. This year John Hart joined in.

Jacqui and Alberto joined us.

Top photo,  John, presentation and Jacqui & Alberto taken by Tony Woodhouse

Commonplace Book 2021

 Posted out my second Commonplace Book

Front cover shows Joan at high tide on Sunset Beach, Gordon’s Bay, South Africa  in March 2020 shortly before we had to return home early because of RSA travel ban on incoming flights.

The upper back cover inset shows Peter, Krisie, Joan and Dan in the sea front apartment we rented in Criccieth, Wales in July 2021, and the lower one was taken shortly afterwards in the Prae Wood Arms, St Albans, England and shows Peter, Joan, Toby and Emma.

Grumping at Aspava

 

It was my turn to book a restaurant for the December meeting of the Grumpy Old Men. I chose Aspava and ten Grumps attended after three dropped out for various reasons.

Clockwise from front left: Gerry, Mike, Martin, Mark, Andy, Rick, me, John, Mike & Gerry