Frugal Friends Christmas party has come and gone for another year, and what a wonderful weekend it was as well.
It started for me on Friday afternoon when me and hubby picked ladyh up from the station. We spent a lovely evening together just chilling and having the odd drink or two (!).
Saturday morning was spent getting ready for the afternoon and evening ahead. Arrived at the hotel about 2.30 and checked in. Had the same room that we had the last time as well – not a good view out of the window (a roof!) but other than that the rooms are clean and adequate.
I had arranged for Julie and Carrie to phone me so I could collect them from reception. I know how daunting it is to arrive at one of these parties never having actually met anyone before. Doesn’t matter how often you speak to them via email or the forum, it’s not quite the same as meeting them in the flesh.
The experts had a meeting arranged with Andy for the afternoon and Lisa and Julie had to do some filming so we made our way to the room – we thought it was going to be the same as last time, but it wasn’t. I have to admit to being a little concerned when I saw it as it was bigger and I knew there weren’t going to be a lot of us there and I worried we would rattle round in it
The filming done, we sat around and chatted for a while and I was so glad that I wasn’t driving a long distance in the rain that was lashing down – I don’t think we could have picked a much worse day weather wise. We finally figured out the heating in the room as well as it was quite chilly.
Andy had thoughtfully provided us experts with some badges so that posters knew who we were and we could greet everyone who arrived.
People soon started arriving. My thanks to the lovely marksam1 who bought me a box of choccies. It was a lovely gesture and very much appreciated. I think everyone was soon made to feel at ease. I had to rush off and get changed! I did rather feel like mutton dressed up as lamb though.
We had the fsg and his partner, me and hubby, Lisa and her hubby, Julie, Lesley and her hubby, Roadrunners x2, Mitsu9 and his wife, Carrie and her hubby, marksam1, Melanie Giles, Mel n. and Tina from Mel’s office. Andy Davie and Indra from Vincent Bond, Mike Morgan from Cleardebt/Abacus and not forgetting my houseguest for the weekend, Ladyh.
I think that was it, but if I have left anyone out I really apologise!
As you can see, not many but it is difficult to find the money for a hotel room at this time of year and it really didn’t seem to make any difference to the atmosphere which was fantastic. You can tell how good it was - Lisa and her hubby were only staying for the experts meeting as their little boy had swine flu, but as he seemed to have improved during the evening, they stayed until quite late.
We used our little fibre optic Christmas tree and Mel had provided some crackers, table confetti and party poppers which made the room feel really festive. We also had some silly string and had a whale of a time with that! The tree looked quite good as well as we had the Secret Santa presents under it.
The disco was good – mostly used as background music I think although some people did get up and dance. I have to confess that I wasn’t one of them as I was afraid of falling off my heels!
An excellent buffet was provided, even the food was better than at last years party.
I was utterly gob smacked and embarrassed when Mel got up to sing my praises and then presented me with a bottle of champagne! It was a lovely thought and I was very touched by the gesture, especially as there are others who give just as good information (or sometimes better!) than I do. Andy also received a bottle of champagne for his work as spokesperson on the site, and very well deserved it was as well. My hubby, who makes lots of jam, received a bottle of Welsh Malt Whisky from Mel as a thank you and he was really pleased with that.
Secret Santa was great fun as well, and considering we only spent £1 each, the gifts were lovely. I had a very nice manicure set. Other gifts included a diary, pens, cuddly toys. It was great
The hotel actually had to boot us out of the room shortly after midnight! We adjourned to the bar for a nightcap and then went to bed.
Those of us who stayed met up for breakfast in the morning and then wended our way home. Thankfully the weather had improved!
Hopefully we will be sorting out another one in the summer next year and perhaps more people will able to attend.
Without Mel, this party wouldn’t have happened so it is a big THANK YOU to her for sponsoring it.
Met up with old friends and made some new ones. Couldn’t have been a better weekend.
Apologies that I didn’t get a lot of time to speak to everyone. Hopefully when we have a summer do, outside hopefully, it will be easier to speak to everyone.