Miles, Smiles and Memories!💙
Note: Clicking on any of the photographs will enlarge them
Well, October certainly hasn’t given me much time to put my feet up! But then again, who wants to sit still when there are so many wonderful friends to see, places to visit and memories to make?
If there is one thing this month has reminded me, it’s just how lucky we are to be part of this incredible Round Table Family. Wherever we go, friendship is waiting and the welcome is always warm!
3rd October – Bollywood Meets Blackpool!
It was time to get the glad rags on and head to Blackpool to join my fellow Presidents for Raz’s Royale!
What an evening! Bright colours, Bollywood dancing, a fabulous band and, of course, wonderful company. We even learnt a few new Bollywood moves, although I’m not entirely sure we’ll be appearing in a Bollywood blockbuster any time soon!
A fantastic evening of friendship, fun and dancing. What more could we possibly ask for?
4th and 5th October – Family, Trains and a Little Flutter!
Sunday saw us stopping near Leicester for a delicious roast dinner with Rod’s cousin and his wife. A lovely chance to catch up before I was off on my travels again!
On Monday, it was all aboard the train to Harwich, where I was very kindly home-hosted in a fabulous Georgian house. And here’s the best bit – just THREE minutes’ walk from the station! Now that’s what I call perfect planning!
That evening, I headed to Clacton to meet the lovely ladies of Sunshine Coast Tangent.
And where did they take their National Vice President?
GAMBLING ON THE PIER!!
Yes, ladies, you read that correctly! A night on the pier, a little flutter and then off to a restaurant for some lovely food and a drink or two!
What a fabulous evening! So much laughter, so many smiles and another reminder that Tangent ladies certainly know how to enjoy themselves!
6th October – York, Here I Come!
Back on the trains again! This time my destination was York, where the wonderful ladies of York Tangle were celebrating their 9th Charter.
Nine years may not seem very long in the life of a Club but goodness me, these ladies have certainly packed a lot into those years!
Their enthusiasm, friendship and determination to keep moving forward are wonderful to see. They continue to thrive and, even more excitingly, their latest prospective Member is a Circler!YiCF,
Carol
Now that really does make me smile. Seeing that connection between Ladies Circle and Tangent continuing to flourish is something I feel passionately about.
The future of Tangent is bright when we keep those friendships and connections alive. Congratulations, York Tangle, and here’s to many more fabulous years!
8th October – Back to My Roots!
Next stop was a little trip down memory lane as I headed back to the Reading area for a joint meeting of Clubs from Reading and the surrounding areas.
It really was lovely to be ‘home’! There is something very special about returning to familiar territory and being welcomed by old friends. Of course, there was plenty of catching up to do!
We were treated to a fascinating speaker who told us about winning a competition 25 years ago that took her all the way to Russia for a zero-gravity flight!
Imagine that! Floating around weightlessly, experiencing something most of us can only dream about.
And here’s something even more extraordinary – one of the other people taking part was none other than Elon Musk!
But perhaps the most impressive achievement of all?
Twenty-five years later, she can STILL fit into the spacesuit they made for her!
Norwich – Following in the Footsteps of Friendship
Then it was off to Norwich and the fabulous Sprowston Manor Hotel for Kelly’s Ball, where once again all four Round Table Family Presidents came together.
Saturday brought something rather special. We joined a fascinating guided walk following in the footsteps of Louis Marchesi, the determined young man who founded Round Table almost 100 years ago.
As we listened to the story of his determination to bring young men together through friendship and fellowship, I found myself reflecting on just how much we all owe him.
Nearly a century later, look what has grown from that one man’s vision!
Round Table, Ladies Circle, 41 Club and Tangent. Four organisations, countless friendships and a lifetime of memories for so many people.
Just think of the places we’ve visited, the people we’ve met, the laughter we’ve shared and the support we’ve given one another.
How different might our lives have been without that one young man’s determination?
It really brought home to me just how special our Round Table Family is and how fortunate we are to be part of it.
Friendship really is at the heart of everything we do.
And then, of course, it was time to party!
Kelly’s Ball was a tremendous success. A sell-out crowd, a fabulous atmosphere, lots of fun and, most importantly, a fantastic amount of money raised for a wonderful cause.
Kelly was delighted to announce that his fundraising has already reached the point where he can order a brand-new Blood Bike!
What an incredible achievement!
Well done, Kelly! A fantastic example of what can be achieved when friendship, determination and fundraising come together. You should be very proud!
A Motorhome Adventure in the Making?
Now, you may remember that Rod and I have been dipping our toes into the wonderful world of motorhoming.
Well, it was time to take the next step, so off we went to the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC!
Goodness me, who knew there were so many motorhomes to look at?
We spent a very tiring day exploring, comparing, climbing in and out and imagining all the adventures we could have.
Did we buy one?
Not on the day!
But all I can say is… WATCH THIS SPACE!
I have a feeling there may be more adventures on wheels in our future!
Market Drayton – A Wonderful Welcome and More Memories!
And finally, it was off to Market Drayton for a fabulous lunch at a superb venue.
What made this visit even more special was that the ladies had invited Whitchurch Tangent to join us.
Now, this really was another trip down memory lane, as I had been a Member of both Clubs when we lived in Shropshire!
How wonderful to walk into a room and see so many familiar faces. The years may pass and we may move to different parts of the country but those friendships remain.
The welcome was incredibly warm, the company was fabulous and there was, naturally, plenty of chatter and laughter!
The ladies also presented me with a very generous donation towards my chosen charity, which was greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much, ladies, for your kindness, generosity and wonderful hospitality. It was an absolute pleasure to be back amongst you.
And So the Adventures Continue…
As I look back over these few weeks, I can’t help but smile.
From Bollywood dancing in Blackpool to gambling on Clacton Pier, celebrating in York, revisiting old friends, reflecting on our Round Table Family’s history and dreaming of motorhome adventures, what a wonderful few weeks it has been!
But do you know what makes it all so special?
It’s not the miles travelled, the beautiful venues or even the fabulous events.
It’s the people.
The friendships that have lasted for years, the new ones being made, the laughter that fills a room and that wonderful feeling of belonging.
We are all part of something rather special and I hope we never take that for granted.
So, ladies, keep getting involved, keep supporting your Clubs, keep welcoming new Members and, most importantly, keep enjoying every opportunity that Tangent brings your way.
Because life is so much richer when we share it with friends.
And wherever my travels take me next, you can be sure I’ll be there…
By Your Side! 💙
YiCF,
Carol