AWW 19.12.2007 The walk that wasn't; the Christmas lunch that was.

No walk, no leader's report. I suppose it therefore once more falls to the D.C.B.- cum-Snaparazzo to record something of what happened.

Part one: The walk.
As the national Bards almost put it, the to-and-fro conflicting rains cast all the plans of mice and men agley; cataracts and hurricanes did spout, raged and blew. However, thanks to Stan and Elaine's prescience and internet skills, the walk was cancelled in timely fashion at 8am, mais ou menos, and gentlemen (and gentlewomen too no doubt) in Algarve then abed, did not
think themselves accursed they were not there........but gratified that they could enjoy a couple of hours' more snooze, before a general and convivial assembly at half-past noon at Solar Do Farelo. And no lady, elegantly arrayed in this season's must-have shades of claret, burgundy and rose, found that she had to sit in close proximity to a muddy and unkempt male, his dampness drying steamily in the indoor warmth.

Part Two: The lunch.
Indoors, safe from the storms, all was indeed warmth and elegance, as 34 walkers, relatives and friends enjoyed mulled wine, refreshing beers and fine fare, the fish cataplana being especially praised. Main meal over, Rod Frew paid appropriate thanks to the organisers and thoughtfully recalled to mind absent friends; David Littlewood made an eloquent plea for volunteers to maintain sections of the Algarve Way; and Alec Whittle, skillfully overcoming the lack of powerpoint presentation, explained his criteria for selecting the various category winners in the RTC photocompetition before displaying the stunning picture, epitomising for him the Spirit of the Walk, taken by the overall winner, Myriam Lo.

Part Three: The winners
For the record, these were Alec's pic picks.
Foliage
1st: Paul "Sea Saws"
2nd: Terry "Need a Rest?"
Hon. mention: Dinah "Golden Nectar"

Sartorial Elegance
1st: Paul "Art Imitates Life"
2nd: Dinah "It's the Thought that Counts"
Hon. mention: Dinah "Dressed for It"

Athleticism/Spirit
1st: Dinah "The Bulldog Spirit"
2nd: Terry "Pressing On"
Hon. mention: Myriam "Gordon's Gully"

Overall winner
(entry in the Athleticism category)
Myriam "The Next Climb"

Now for some less artistic pictures:


Could I persuade you to have the second half?


I think he fell for it

No such persuasion needed

The one that got away

John O' is the one with the glass

I hope there's more than just spuds

Now, good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both

The sauce to meat is ceremony

Stirring things up (as usual)

"You might well think that: I couldn't possibly comment" (Francis Urquhart)

Uma mais, por favor!

David solos with "The Happy Wanderer"

....... while Maestro Fernando conducts

Well, I think that went OK

What the barman saw

And the winner is..........

"The Next Climb"


Finis