Christmas Carol Sing-Along 2017

ANGLO-INDIAN RECREATIONAL CLUB:
CHRISTMAS CAROL SING-ALONG
AFTERNOON TEA PARTY

Chelsea Gardens, Surrey, B.C.
November 25th 2017

We were delighted to host our Club's Christmas Carol sing-along afternoon tea party which has now become something of an annual tradition. Although we were crestfallen that some guests had to cancel at the last minute for various reasons, we were still 30-plus strong—which made for a cosy get together as we mingled, chatted and sang in the festively decorated Fireside Room at Chelsea Gardens in Newton, Surrey.

	Ian and Joy: "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.." Photos: Jacquie & Margaret

As always, Ian (Currie) worked his magic on the keyboard and, along with Joy on the mic, they had everyone warbling their favourite Yuletide carols.

Patty, Betty, Fatma, Glenn, Carol, Orma:
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.."
Photo: Margaret

Keith and Sylvia: "Silver Bells...It's Christmas time in the city..."
Photo: Margaret

Shona, Maxine, Ursula, Vivek, Elsa,
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"
Photo: Margaret

Trevor: "Oh Tannenbaum.."
Photo: Margaret

This year we had a very special treat when Caroline Wright's friend, Bill Abbott, joined us to play jazz improvisations on his sax (accompanied by Ian) to much appreciative applause from the floor.

Sax Man, Bill
Photo: Jacquie

Watch Bill and Ian play "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

Thanks to the potluck contributions by our guests, the tea table groaned under an enormous spread of Christmas goodies: cakes, chocolate confections, pastries, jam and lemon tarts, sandwiches (including Freda D'Souza's specialty—her dainty green chutney sandwiches), and a variety of cookies. Not forgetting, of course, those well loved Indian delights: pakoras, bhajias and gulab jamun sweets. Vivek Savkur's daughter Cherie was unable to attend, but her dad shared her butter-chicken masala filled samosas with us. Sensational!

Photo: Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

We had a number of door prizes that we gave away during the course of the afternoon, and a Christmas trivia quiz that had folks scribbling away earnestly. Margaret shared a couple of anecdotal stories with a Christmas theme, and as is customary, we did the Twelve Days of Christmas with various folks taking on the roles of pipers, maidens milking, drummers drumming, partridges and so on, before the party wound to a close with a lusty rendering of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"!

Raywyn, Jacquie, Betty:
"...And a Partridge in a Pear Tree"
Photo: Ursula

Ian, Margaret "Jingle Bells..."
Photo: Ursula

Bill, Ian, Joy and Margaret: red caps, keyboard and sax
Photo: Ursula

But...all was not yet over! Even as some folks were heading out the door with their biscotti-filled take home mementos (thank you Jacquie), several friends who were still in a party mood took to the floor, while Ian belted out some good 'ol dance numbers. But, of course, all good things eventually have to come to an end, and with winter's early dusk closing in we wound down by 5-ish.

Before signing off here I'd like to once again thank Ian, Raywyn, Joy, Ashley, Marie and Jacquie for all that they did to make the afternoon a success, and also Glenn who helped us clear away after the party was over.

Here are some photos taken by Jacquie (Michael) and Ursula (Maxwell-Lewis). Many thanks to you both.