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It’s Auld Lang Syne as the Bellbirds frolic in the New Year
Doug Jones sums it all up (Click Here to View Photos)
Bellbirds members Peter and Carmen James have the delightful practice of trotting on to the floor no sooner than the band strikes the first note. This time was no exception. Needless to say, within minutes, the James’s were no longer alone as many couples were lured to follow their trend. And the KOPYKATZ kept up the frenzied rhythm throughout until the Countdown to 2012 and after.
With much reluctance President Angela Jansz interrupted the dancing so she could get the official part of the evening out of the way. As brief as always, she welcomed guests with her wishes for an enjoyable evening, thanked them for their support, acknowledged the generosity of all prize donors and expressed her appreciation of the tireless work of the committee that makes Bellbirds events so successful. On a sad note, however, Angela paid tribute to dear Bellbird Arlene Rozairo who passed away on 29 December after a lengthy illness. Arlene (and husband Tony) are stalwarts of the Bellbirds Club and their pioneering help and support through the years were immeasurable. Vale Arlene!
Ladies in their glamorous after-five frocks and glittering sarees accompanied by their gents, attired in bloky sartorial splendour – all 190 of them intent on ushering in 2012 with fitting revelry - poured in to the Rydges Hotel in Rosehill from 7.00pm to be received with a smiling reception from Angela Jansz and Hyacinth Jones.
As they entered the ballroom, Jean Kuveju and Ingrid Keuneman presented ladies with a choice fan each and the men, a colourful souvenir. Thereafter Chris Swan and Alan Trigg ushered the guests to their seats – treated like Royalty indeed!
Refreshing lemonades, wines and spirits and bites to eat awaited them at the festive tables and somehow an aura of Auld Lang Syne hung in the air: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and Auld Lang Syne… We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne”. It’s all about love and friendship in times past, of Scottish origin.
The three-course sit-down dinner and desserts were generous but the surprise piece de resistance was the Sri Lankan traditional New Year’s kiribath and katta sambol that was received with hearty relish.
By 11.30 pm everybody was on the floor – and spilling over to outer perimeters as well – while the band took on a string of rollicking ‘oldies’ – the likes of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean and A Long Way to Tipperary and numerous others – as a segue to the Countdown. Not only the feet were doing the moving as almost everybody vocalised the much loved lyrics to their hearts content and the time to midnight ticked on rapidly. At the moment the old year was bidden adieu, there were hugs and kisses and good wishes all round – and there’s that ‘love and friendship’ in evidence again!
What a Bellbirds night it was too! Auld Lang Syne.
(Click Here to View Photos) |
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