Raffle Winner

It is Sunday 21 December. Looking at the rain gauge, I see that we’ve had almost 40mm of rain overnight (again), so our weather controller quite obviously didn’t get the memo about the 2014 seasons. The summer solstice (sun standing still) is upon us with the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is also the 4th day before Christmas and 361 days since we arrived in Wellington. Where on earth have the days gone?

The Waikanae croquet club may seem like an old fogey’s organisation, but there are quite a number of younger members, especially some of the top “championship” players. Naturally, the younger folk are at work during the week, so, when the club Xmas party was held on 12 December, it may well have appeared to be an old fogey’s “do”.

The party followed the usual format, kicking off with informal opening chats (and jokes) from the club captain and other officials.

And guess what? After the fare, they held a open draw for the prizes for the Xmas raffle. First prize was the large Xmas cake, which was won by Colin. The prize for the Xmas hamper with cheese, chocolates, crackers, biscuits and wine was won by… me!

I speak under correction, but this could be one of the very first prizes I’ve won… ever. That’s probably due to the fact that I never bother to enter any competitions. In fact, I didn’t buy a ticket in this raffle, either. Jeanette actually bought two, and allocated one of the numbers to my mine. So, I suppose that, more correctly, she was the winner of the hamper.

Oh yes, aptly the venue for the meal was the RSA Club in Waikanae.(Returned Services Association).

There is also an upside to old fogeys (some of them are only a couple of years older than me, and some in their eighties are a lot fitter and active than me): they have such a rich wealth of experience in all aspects of life and the world, and many of them eagerly will share their memories and experiences with you.