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Social activities for people with sight loss, in the Brighton and Hove AreaArgus Charity of the year 2008 |
Christmas 2007
Report from Chris & Jonathan Dutton
City Synergy members celebrated Christmas in fine style
this year kicking off in early December with the Christmas Meal. Very keen
on our food, over 30 members and friends came along for the lunch at Lura,
an Italian Restaurant in Patcham where we were made very welcome and had a
thoroughly enjoyable time.
Although not strictly a City Synergy event, for many of us the Singing for
Pleasure concert is a great part of the build up to Christmas. About a
dozen of us attended the concert at the Unitarian Church on the evening of
13th December. One of our members, Jim, sings with the group who
entertained us with a range of songs. Possibly the closest they got to
Christmas were the mince pies served during an interval however such was the
warmth of feeling at the concert that it seemed by no means out of place for
them to finish with a rousing chorus of "June is Busting Out All Over" on
a December evening.
The singing theme continued with our pub crawl/carol singing on 22nd
December. 17 of our members and friends started off in the Setting Sun Pub
(Windmill Street) where the subdued mood lighting gave an advantage to those
using the braille carol sheets. Moving on, we had a great welcome at the
Sir Charles Napier, Southover Street, where bar staff and some regulars
joined in. As the beers were sunk, we moved on to more challenging efforts
such as "While Shepherd Watched" to the tune of "Ilkley Moor Baht' At".
"Once in Royal David's City" to the tune of "Everybody was kung-fu fighting"
will have to wait for another year.
A great family afternoon was spent at the Panto at the Theatre Royal on 31st
December. Despite all the planning and scripting, it's always the
children who steal the show. One boy taken on stage to help lead
the audience singing confidently announced that he came from Haywards Teeth,
and used the opportunity with the microphone to complain about the size of
his room at home.
Finally, the Late Late Christmas Party was held in the back room of The
Nelson Pub, Trafalgar Street on 12th January. About 25 members displayed
their knowledge in the Big Prize Quiz and tried their luck in the Bran Tub.
Games, including sumo wrestling and cowboys and indians, went like clockwork
(not surprising because they were clockwork). We all took food and assembled
a veritable feast. Many thanks to The Nelson bar staff for making us so
welcome.
As ever thanks are due to all the friends and volunteers who have helped to
make such a great Christmas Season possible
Happy New Year to one and all
Chris and Jonathan
