Annual Dinner

The AQSC Annual Dinner

Lay-up for the annual dinner was on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 November. The clubhouse was spruced up, the tables laid, glasses and cutlery polished and the bar made ready for Saturday night. For the table decorations Diana had opted for a red and gold theme which gave the clubhouse a regal glow under the coloured spotlights.

Anne and Leo wrapped the last of the raffle prizes and the kitchen was scrubbed from top to bottom in preparation for the caterers. Many thanks to Nigel, Diana, Anne & Leo, Joan & George, Eiko Edwards and Gordon Courtney for all their hard work.

The tickets advised 7:30 for 8:00pm but people started arriving shortly after 7:00pm. Rodger greeted everyone with pre dinner drinks and the bar area was soon filled with conversation and laughter. Everybody looked very smart with the ladies in their 'posh frocks' and the gentlemen in suits or dinner jackets.

At 8:00'ish everybody was invited to be seated and the first course was served. This year's menu offered something for everyone. Starters included avocado & prawn Marie Rose, home made leek & potato soup or chicken Caesar salad.

The main course consisted of chicken supreme in a wild mushroom sauce stuffed with smoked ham and mushrooms, salmon fillet with a white wine and chive sauce, pork loin served with caramelised apples in a Calvados sauce or roasted butternut squash filo tarts with walnuts and spinach; all served with potato's and seasonal vegetables.

The deserts were chocolate and hazelnut profiteroles, lime and lemon Bavarois, raspberry crème brulee followed by cheese and biscuits, coffee and mints.

Rodger had ensured that enough wine was laid in to meet demand and the whole atmosphere was friendly and relaxed with conversation ranging not only around but across the tables. It was unfortunate that some people were late in applying for tickets and were consequently disappointed. The truth is that the clubhouse and the caterers can only cope with just so many people and we reached that limit quite quickly this year.

The Annual Dinner is very popular and its date was published on the AQSC programme way back at the beginning of the season and has been advertised several times since then. We hate to turn people away but, as with all club social activities, they are managed on a first come, first served basis.

The evening was a great success and over coffee Nigel first thanked the caterers 'Food for Thought' for the dinner, Leo and Anne for running the raffle and then presented Diana with a bouquet of flowers for all the work she had put in to ensure everything went well. The evening ended after midnight with some hardier souls still chatting well after most people had gone.

A good size team turned up on Sunday morning to help clear up and put the clubhouse back to rights. If I tried to name everybody I'd be bound to forget someone so I'll just say you know who you were and add many thanks for all your hard work. It was most appreciated. See you all at the annual dinner 2009.

Mike (Can still get into my DJ) Baker