By Joyce Leech

Published at 15:44, Wednesday, 04 February 2009

THE first meeting of 2009 took place on Tuesday, January 6. Our president, Mrs Fleming, welcomed everybody.

Best wishes were sent to various members who were absent through illness.

Minutes of the last meeting were read, approved and signed as correct.

Our Christmas Party was on January 16, at Summergrove.

Our speakers for the night were Ruth and Steven Moore from Moresby, with their slides of their last holiday in South Africa, and then in complete contrast, The Western Lakes.

We soon forgot the frosty night outside, watching the animals in the bush, the countryside red with dust. The views from Table Top Mountain were spectacular. They showed us some slides of a place called Sun City, the statues of massive animals made out of the rocks were beautiful. The reason for going to this place was to go out on a safari on the back of an elephant (Ruth’s favourite animal) – a scary experience. Ruth told us about the time the elephant wanted to go for something to eat and the guide wanted it to go the other way.

Then in complete contrast we were shown slides of the western lakes in winter, Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater and surroundings, all covered by snow and frost, we were back to feeling cold again. A few last slides of our native animals and birds soon had us feeling warm inside once more.

Our competition for the night was “a small animal.” Winners were Mrs M Muncaster (elephant) and Mrs V Bland (dog).

Raffle and hostess for the night was Mrs O Kirkbride. Raffle winners: l Mrs S Fleming; 2 Mrs I Gate; 3 Mrs M Muncaster. A welcome cup of tea finished the meeting.

Our February 3 meeting featured Derrick Tunstall with his talk on Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk