Christmas Dinner at The Boathouse — Saturday 30th November 2024

Reporter: Ronan O’Driscoll

The SCOM Christmas Dinner which was held at the Boathouse Restaurant in Sale Water Park on 30th November was a great night out. About 20 members attended the event which consisted of informal drinks at the bar followed by a delicious dinner in the restaurant. Somewhat disappointingly from the narrator’s point of view there was no disgraceful behaviour to report, no fights and nobody ran off with anyone else’s partner. Furthermore, we could not try out our hand at the other type of skiing (water skiing) because of the darkness.

Your narrator learnt a valuable lesson about the venue which he last visited for a summer event some years ago, followed by a pleasant walk across the pedestrian bridge over the M60 then through sun-dappled parkland to Dane Road Metro station. Things are not the same on a dark dank November night! Suffice to say that it was exciting to walk towards the venue on narrow muddy paths through deserted scrubland. I was very pleased that I had remembered to put a torch in my pocket, but visibility was still limited to a few feet ahead of me. The experience was interesting at 6.30 pm but best not repeated at 10 pm for fear of horrors what might lurk in the bushes in the darkness so many thanks to Brian and Helen Richardson for safe delivery of your scribe to the Metro station after the event!

The ambience at the venue was great as we worked our way through three courses of good quality food with attentive service. We welcomed new members Ralph, Jack and Ross along with many regular attenders, all looking forward to getting to the Alps in December or in the New Year.