I hope the noggins dates didn't confuse anyone last month; I apologise for my mistake. While writing this month's report I noticed that due to some form of astigmatism, I had picked up the days in August for July. If I had done this in February/March I would have got away with it. This is what happens when you write a centre report on a wet bank holiday Monday while watching a re-run of three men in a boat, on one of those Freeview channels. When their dog tumbled into the lock, it did worry me. However, their cruise on the River Thames was most enjoyable and to be honest essential viewing for us. They were following that famous book quite closely but I was disappointed when they missed out the Hampton Court maze, you remember the line, "...this is one of the biggest mazes in Europe you know...," priceless! Perhaps a visit to Hampton Court could make a nice Thames Valley outing for next year?
Meanwhile, we are now building up strongly for our 40th Anniversary dinner to be held in November at the Bird In Hand. This will be a special event. Please contact Mike Aldrich if you would like to go as soon as you can as we are taking bookings now on a first come first served basis. You can find Mike's contact details listed under Events, please see below.
We shall soon send out the menu choices for our 40th Anniversary dinner to everyone that has registered an interest. On return of your menu selection for you and your guests, we would also like full payment; your ticket(s) will then be sent in return. If you have already paid then you will need to just return to us your choices. You will enjoy three courses: starter choices include a vegetable broth, melon cocktail, light puff pastry with mushrooms and asparagus, fresh salmon, baked goats cheese; while the mains choices include roast rib eye of beef, breast of chicken, pork, smoked haddock, venison, and cannelloni with wild mushrooms, spinach and cheddar. Also, the desserts are wonderful: warm dark chocolate just to mention one of them. I hope you will forgive me, but I shall have to just interrupt this centre report at this stage, as I have just suffered a sudden pang of hunger. I will just go and have something to eat.
It's OK I am back now. I can recommend a cheese and pickle sandwich halfway through a centre report, it is just the ticket. As you can see the menu for our 40th Anniversary dinner will be quite special. We also have entertainment during the evening from the King of 'Rock and Roll'. I would like to thank Pam and Mike Aldrich along with their team for pulling this evening together. I know for example, Geoff Giles is gathering material together that will be on display, showing what we have been up to through the ages. Thank you Geoff - it will be wonderful to be reminded of all our happy times we have spent together as a centre. Incidentally, if you have any interesting photographs you would like to share with Geoff, I am sure he will be most pleased to borrow them from you. I assure you Geoff will take great care of them.
Please remember if you were a previous regular at the Reading, Grogmog or even Thames Valley Centre, I would love to hear from you, if you are still able to read this column. I would like to hear your memories so that we can pull together a comprehensive history for our Ruby dinner. Naturally, if you would like to join us for our 40th Anniversary dinner you would be most welcome. Also, if you are still active with us please pass this message on to any old members that you may still be in touch with - thank you. Just think when our Centre was formed, men and women wore long hair and sometimes, so I am told, it was hard to tell the difference.
For those of us that will be staying at home for the summer holidays we have a pleasant walk in and around Stoke Poges - the location of that famous golf course that I like to drive up to in my DB5. I hope to see you there for real and not just in my dreams.
Take care, see you all soon