Rotary Club of Oak Bay Christmas Party - December 17, 2014

Dec, 17, 2014 Christmas Party

Reporter: John Jordan
Photos:    courtesy of Rotary Club of Oak Bay Facebook page

Members and guests (55 in total) arrived at the main lounge of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel about 6 p.m. to begin the  evening around the fire with a glass of wine, some sparkling conversation and the nostalgic tunes of Christmas, coming from the piano.  We thank the remarkable Ruby Tang, President of the Oak Bay Interact Club for her playing which lifted us into the Christmas spirit.

Heather Aked, MC for the festivities, welcomed guests into “our own” dining salon and Lorna brought us all together with her “thought for Christmas.”  

Toward the conclusion of a delicious meal, our one and only special guest arrived from the North Pole and made his rounds from table to table identifying both the naughty and the nice.  As always, Santa was a round, jolly old elf, but one could already see  the strain of the season.  The poor fellow was wearing his suit backwards.  He must have slipped away from his workshop while Mrs. Sharlow was busy elsewhere making cookies.

Carolers from the Canadian College for the Performing Arts sang a medley of favorites which, toward the last, had raised enough nostalgia that members joined in - on whatever note they fancied.  

Taking advantage of the crowd weakened by food, wine and song, Heather and Lorna enthralled us all, weaving their own poetic lines into the rhythm of a “Rotarians’ Night Before Christmas.”

A happy crowd departed grateful to Heather and Lorna for organizing a lovely evening and now ready to don kerchief and cap and settle down for a long Winter nap. 

The end.  

(At least until the informal opportunity for drinks in the Snug on Tuesday, Dec 23^rd at midday or when we meet again at the first meeting of the new year on Jan 6, 2015.) 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all members and their families.