Whitby & District Astronomical Society

With copious waters having flowed under the bridge of 2024, it was once again time to celebrate the coming of the new year at the WDAS Christmas meal (or, how we like to call it - the winter solstice celebration) Timing was perfect this year with the date of the meal falling on December 21st - solstice day!  

The venue was again the Hare and Hounds - Hawsker, with eleven members and partners having booked to come along and celebrate the onset of daylight lengthening.  Unfortunately, Brian was unable to make it, coming down with one of the many bugs and viruses doing the usual pre-Christmas rounds.  Just the ten then. Keith, Mark, and John L, meeting John McCue, who had arrived earlier, before Richard, Michele, Lee, Victor, Saul and Jill completed our festive compliment.

Once seated, Royal Mail again lost out as a small avalanche of Christmas cards were distributed, criss-crossing the table. Christmas crackers were duly pulled (jokes, puzzles, and paper hats, told, solved and donned) before starters arrived... and dispatched in quick time.  Conversation and debate ebbed and flowed in time for the main courses, traditional turkey and trimmings being the most popular, although every choice was enviously 'eyed up', all delicious though. Aside from a few veggies, empty plates were gathered up. 

More time for further reflections on the year before puddings and desserts arrived. Mark, who had refrained from having a dessert this year kind of regretted his decision looking at the various, mouthwatering and generous helpings of cheesecake, Christmas pudding, tarts, pies and cheese boards.  Oh well!  Again, empty plates going back, although it had been a delightful struggle for a few!  Keith, John L and Mark all captured the aftermath and spirit of the occasion on camera.

Just the arduous task of sorting out the monetary damage to the Christmas wallet, accounting for the deposit and leaving a tip. For once (and don't ask me how) this went surprisingly smoothly! Having arrived before 7pm time seemed to have flown, the clock saying 9:15pm as we headed for the door and our journey home. Well, not quite, overhead the sky was sparkling with stars and planets (once we had shielded out the glare of lights) instigating a very brief and impromptu star party. We can't help it! Festive goodbyes finally made we departed under the starry skies, waistlines a little larger! Big thank you for all coming along, or intending too and unable, and also to the staff at the Hare and Hounds, we shall no doubt look to do it all again next year! Cheers!