Christmas Party 21 November, 2021
It was a festive occasion at Bushwillow Park on Sunday 21 November. The Bushwillow venue had a spacious hall with a wide deck. This overlooked a small dam and rolling green terraces with indigenous forests and plantations behind, all in the shadow of Mt Gilboa. A perfect Midlands setting and we had a typical cool, cloudy Midlands day to match. South Africa was in Lockdown Stage 1 so after a tough year with the Corona virus pandemic, we were pleased to be able to hold a gathering like this. There were 38 adult hikers and 2 little Christmas elves, Mayalee and Lilly.
Libby led the hike for those early starters, setting off soon after 10 a.m. with 13 hikers. It was a circular route around the perimeter of the Bushwillow estate, taking about an hour. The path went through thick indigenous forest, past an abandoned tree house, past dams and alongside plantations. Meanwhile the rest of the committee were setting up the tables inside, with Hettie decorating the Christmas tree in one corner. The Guiot parents did their own hike with their little elves.
More people started drifting in and soon the braai fires were lit, using the solid brick braai units on the grass at the side of the venue. Very convivial. Andy’s lovely sound system provided pleasant background music. Meanwhile Andy and Alistair’s golf game was being vigourously contested … a ridiculous task of hitting the light aero balls into a bucket up a hill!
We suggested the hikers come in festive gear and to bring their own braai food and utensils. The club provided tea, coffee (which had mould – sorry for that, it was pre-lockdown coffee) juice, biscuits, sherry, snacks and dessert. The financially well ordered MHC also paid for each hiker for use of the venue, R50 a head.
Instead of playing the customary Secret Santa, the committee decided to ask each hiker to bring a voluntary donation of a packet of biscuits, about R30/40 for Bonginkosi. This is the Church of the Ascension outreach to the poor people of Sweetwaters. The biscuit box was overflowing with packets plus R350 in donation money. Thank you, for your generosity, Midlands hikers.
After enjoying our braaied meat and the stunning salads members brought, dessert was laid out – Hettie’s individually wrapped fruit cake in festive serviettes were popular, there were also meringues and mince pies. We then all wandered outside to cheer on the competitors of the hotly contested golf competition.
MC Andy called everyone together inside the hall for the awards.
Most Festively Dressed Lady went to Margaret Ashton, who smilingly accepted all the quips about the numerous balls she was sporting on her costume … some from the men too cheeky to be reported here! No award for Most Festive man – what a wash out the men were. So Andy decided that Libby and self, Penny, should be joint second after Margaret.
For Best Photo of the Year, Katy Guiot and Amy Jacobs were the young judges. Katy had produced 2 stunning A3 size collages of the best Pics of 2021, to encourage hikers to submit their photos. These were displayed in the hall.
The Best Photo went to Kostya Zloschastiev for his tranquil photo of 2 couples, each hand in hand, strolling along the shoreline at Mtunzini, which “ really embodies the pleasure and contentment we get from hiking” especially in this year of the Corona virus pandemic. Quote from Katy’s report.
First runner up was Rebecca Wakeford’s view across a snowy Midlands from Inhlosane. The 2 second runners up were Dave Sclanders’ Horses on Mt Lebanon and Iain Kerr’s giraffe through the tree tops at Bisley. A Special Photographic Report was awarded to Dave Sclanders for his 3 folders of “Rocks: sand, wind and water erosion” for their imaginative interpretation.
Best Report of the Year went to Debbie Giles for her vivid description and interesting observations of the Umlalazi camp at Mtunzini. The judge was Julia Preece.
Andy provided cheerful music with his sound system and the music announced the arrival of a jovial Father Christmas (alias Alistair Nixon) and his right hand lady, the dainty Christmas fairy (alias Bushy Kirby) who was having a bad hair day with her curly strawberry blonde hair! The fairy had also had a difficult encounter while dressing for the part, mistaking a boob tube for bloomers and getting her 2 hairy legs squeezed into one opening! All rather awkward! They were a great team together, dancing and chatting up the ladies and throwing chocolates to the giggling crowd with wild abandon. Hilarious fun! Then they were off into the green hills again and Andy entertained us with melodious crooning of a few well known songs ending with a Beatles number.
With tummies full and heads ringing with chuckles after the festive entertainment, we started to pack up. All the late stayers helped to put tables and chairs away. Thanks to the committee of Hettie, Libby, Heather, Marlise, Alistair and Andy for helping to put together another fun filled MHC Christmas party in our beautiful Natal Midlands.
And the Midlands rain and wind held off for us!
Hoorah! Happy Christmas and let’s hope for lots of good hiking next year.
