On Sunday night (11th November) we held our annual club meal at the Steading in Edinburgh and although it was a driech winter’s evening in Edinburgh it was, as always, a wonderful, warm-hearted evening in the company of the Nitten Folk Club. The numbers were a wee bit down on previous years but then some of us are getting on a bit and a few of our older members decided not to brave the cauld November weather. A few were also unable to join us due to health issues. In addition we have also, very sadly, lost a few members this year, who were, nonetheless, very much with us in spirit.
As we’ve come to expect from the Steading, the food was excellent and the kitchen and waiting staff did themselves proud in keeping us all fed and watered. A great deal of thanks must go, as ever, to Jim and May Weatherston for organising the event. Well done, and our sincere thanks to both of you.
The club meal is always a very special evening. It’s one of the few occasions during the year when we have the opportunity to get together socially (nae raffles or ‘Fair, Fair Braws’ to contend with), and for the members to invite their friends and families along to enjoy the warmth and conviviality that Nitten Folk Club offers.
As noted above, we have tragically lost a few members this year to illness and we were reminded of this by Ronnie, this year’s song writing contest winner, who passed around the competition trophy – The Jock and Gina Bryce Memorial; Quaich – into which he poured a liberal quantity of fine malt whisky (it’s a drinking vessel after all). He asked that as we drank we should quietly toast the memory of those we haver lost and the health and happiness of those who we still have. A nice gesture that was fully appreciated by all.
After the delicious meal – there was, inevitably, the music. As has become traditional, we finished the evening with a real old fashioned singalong with contributions from just about everyone present (sometimes with much cajoling from ‘Chairman Charlie’).
A grand way to spend a cold November evening and many thanks to all who attended. 