The last meeting in 2015

Meeting Report

Sadly, the final meeting in 2015 was poorly attended, as we had a very nice evening.

I arrived to put out too many chairs, as it turned out, to find Daisy delivering bags full of goodies forus to eat and drink. Unfortunately she was feeling unwell (she was chauffeured by her Son who has just passed his test) and so she retired homeward. ( We have since learned that she is now feeling better.) So Anne then took charge of things and heated up the mulled wine and set out all the platters of fine grub.

Proceedings started with Janet giving us a presentation on how to set up a Flickr account so that those of us taking part in the on-line ‘One a Month’ competition can be ready to start in January. (These instructions will be available on the website we were informed). There will be a different subject each month and we can enter up to three images. You then have to comment on all of the entries during (or before) the week after the end of the month, because if you have not, and one of your entries is judged the best, you will be immediately stripped of your honour! It all sounded rather too harsh to me. [Ed: You don't have to comment on everything, but you dohave to vote for your top three images.]

We were then issued with a delicious cup of mulled wine and a cracker and the main event of the evening commenced, which was a Knock-out competition devised and run by John Gauvin. There were 64 projected images provided by participants and they were put up on the screen two at a time, side by side, and we all had to decide which one was best. This image then went on to the next round when the remaining 32 images went through the same process, right up until there were just two left and we arrived at the winner. Images were randomly selected by the software.

To start with, our Chairman decided that we would adopt a House of Commons type method of voting (lobbying) so that we went to the side of the room that our choice of the best image was on. Got it? However, there ensued some unruly behaviour, with members falling over chairs and with a good deal of complaining, and so Chris was forced to abandon the idea for reasons of health and safety! Noise levels and staggering had also risen due to the alcohol intake. We reverted to the old well developed method of voting by putting our hands up!!

We had a break half way through the competition to indulge in the array of fine goodies available to eat and drink, and, of course, to have one of the Prize Winning Mince Pies made by Audrey. They are the best part of our entire season’s programme as they are 'megga delicious’. It is rumoured that her house is full to overflowing with these pies at this time of year as the demand in the neighbourhood is so great for them, and it is also rumoured that the famous Supermarket whose name sounds like ‘Straight-hose' are approaching her with a contract for suppling them next Christmas.

When every one had had sufficient to satisfy, we moved on to finish the Knock-out. As it turned out, both the last two images were from the same author, David Seddon, thus demonstrating that David is right up there with the greatest photographers in our club. Well done David. He was presented with an intriguing box as his prize which we learned was a replica of the Christmas Box given to the soldiers on the front line in WW One. It contained such things as a sewing kit, a tin of Vaseline and other essentials that David would need on a long hike on the South Downs next summer.

So a very good time was had by all and our special thanks must go to Daisy, Anne, Audrey, Liz, John, Janet, and other members who helped without me knowing.

May I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Submitted by Derek Grieve on