January 2010

A very Healthy & Happy New Year to everyone. We hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and New Year celebrations whether you stayed here in Spain or ventured back to the UK, or even spent the Christmas period in some far away exotic place. January always seems to be a time when everyone reflects on the previous year and makes all sorts of New Year’s resolutions, which in some cases, especially the keep fit regime doesn’t seem to last very long. One thing we are sure, everyone is hoping is that the euro will go back up to a rate that we are all happy with.

At our 5 December Meeting we proposed that items to the value of 100€ be donated to each sector of the Camposol Clean Up Committees enabling them to carry on the great work that they are doing. This proposal was warmly accepted by a packed room of people who attended. We are asking that the Chairman of each Committee representing the Sectors will contact either Rosemary for Sectors D & C and Maureen for Sectors B & A to make the necessary arrangements. Phone numbers are shown below.

It seems a long time since the 16 November Dance, but it was certainly a night of first class entertainment. We had managed at last to persuade the very funny Rikki Stevens with Fred to venture out of Benidorm. This guy soon had the room full of laughter with many of his stories, especially the Zulu one accompanied by the appropriate headgear. The room erupted when little Fred appeared to everyone’s great delight. Rikki was so enjoying the warmth from the room, that we had a job to get him off the stage. The night also included a 45 minute diva show by the lovely Kinnie Lee who stood in at the last moment because Maria O’Hara had to return to Ireland owing to the sudden death of her mother. Thanks Kinnie, we certainly appreciated it. On the night, we also introduced a lovely guy by the name of Glenroy Oakley, who back in the 70´s and 80´s was one of the top Soul/Motown singers in the UK and America. Glenroy, who has semi-retired to Spain, has sung on stage with Paul McCartney, sang at Mick & Bianca Jagger´s wedding and also sang at Stella McCartney´s 21st birthday; so a real popular guy.

Our next event was the always popular Ladies’ Day on Wednesday 9 December with a trip to Benidorm. Two coaches arrived at the La Marina Service Station just outside Benidorm where Bucks Fizz and cakes were enjoyed in glorious sunshine before heading straight to the market. After a stroll around what was a very quiet market, time for a bit of lunch before 80 ladies headed off to the very funny Rich Bitch Show. Some lovely ladies’ gifts & meat vouchers were part of the Raffle & Christmas Quiz which took place on the outward journey and our thanks go to Lyn (hairdresser) and Viv (Fuschia Beauty Clinic) for their donations of vouchers which were also given out as raffle prizes.

Not to be left out, the men went along to the Laser Shooting, with some also taking part in the archery. The eventual winner of the laser shooting was Bill – not bad for a 70 year old!! Thanks to Liz and staff at Cornish Pride for making up the lovely packed lunches which kept the men going.

The Christmas Party Night took place on Monday 14 December with 210 people seated in a very festive-looking room, with St Nicholas Church Choir starting the evening off with a selection of favourite carols. As we said we didn’t want ask local business people this year for raffle prizes, but were quite overwhelmed by the ones that contacted us to donate a prize. Special thanks go to Plumas Furniture Store & Aubrey Lebor for their very generous donations. A big thank you to everyone who supports Welcome and donated Christmas gifts, enabling Rosemary to make up some beautiful hampers. Over 40 prizes were on display for everyone to view before the raffle took place, plus the names of all the people that kindly donated.
Our thanks go to the entertainers, Angie, Emma, Lee & Andy who had come over from the UK to provide a night of first class entertainment; great Christmas songs to dance to, plus a sketch covering Christmas songs from the past to the present with even Frosty the Snowman making an appearance. Well done to Tom & Keith, the brave volunteers, who really got into their parts as helpers to Snow White! We would just like to take this opportunity of thanking all the volunteers who helped before Christmas and after decorating the room plus helping with many other chores. Thanks to Steve & Jo who have manned the door for each event through 2009. We also send our best wishes to Terry who has been our sound engineer during 2009 as he goes back to start a new job in the UK on Boxing Day. Thanks Terry for all the help you have given to Welcome during this time, we did appreciate all the running around you did for us.

Book/Jigsaw Swap dates for January & February are 5 & 19 January and 2 & 16 February 10.00-12 noon. For further information on this popular morning, please contact Jo 630 351 509 or Rosemary 620 105 179.

Monthly Fun Petanca takes place on the last Wednesday of the month at 1pm Can we remind everyone that membership fees are now due and full information can be obtained by contacting Les on 968 131 880.

Tickets are on sale at time for the popular Games Night which includes prize bingo, quiz and Beetle Drive, which gets everyone moving around and meeting new people. This will take place at Mariano´s Restaurant, Camposol on 13 January and tickets to be purchased in advance at a cost of 3€.
There are a few tickets left for our Valentine’s Night Theme Dance which will also take place at Mariano’s, Camposol on Friday 12 February where we will be welcoming from the UK Roy Hemmings (ex Drifters), plus the brilliant Tina Turner tribute. Tickets are 10€ and 5€ extra for light supper (optional).

The next Welcome Meeting will be Saturday 2 January where tickets will go on sale for the Ladies’ Evening at Mariano’s Restaurant, Camposol on Wednesday 3 March. We tried this for the first time last year and it proved very popular so have decided to repeat it. Tickets are 3€ including a raffle, prize bingo, fashion show courtesy of Legs & Co and to finish the evening the popular Martin Ross will get everyone dancing around their handbags! Tickets will also go on sale for the 22 March Dance where we will be welcoming back the great voice & humour of Nick Gold, plus Maria O´Hara with her Showgirl Show and we are delighted that Eddie Wallace is coming over from the UK especially for this night. Great night of first class entertainment for 10€ with 5€ extra for light supper (optional).

We appreciate that a lot of people will still not have returned from their Christmas/New Year break by the meeting date, but as we always say, if you require tickets for these events, please contact us on the Welcome telephone no´s which are 620 105 179/618 254 143.

Details on events and ticket sales, please contact Rosemary 620 105 179/Maureen 618 254 143 or look us up under www.welcomegroupspain.com.

Remember there is no membership for Welcome
but just quality and value for money.