Platinum Clubhouse - January 2006 Newsletter

Well here we are now in the New Year and we wish everyone of our readers the very best for 2006. We hope that you all had a peaceful and Happy Christmas.

We look forward to the lengthening days and Spring which often gives us a lift in our own lives. We hope to have more new members joining us in 2006, and we are grateful to all our members who have stood by Platinum Clubhouse through an eventful 2005, with a post site visit and our Accreditation.

2006 brings our Accreditation results and as usual a lot of work, which is done in Platinum with good spirits and a lot of laughter and slagging, long may it continue.

The Clubhouse Christmas Dinner was held in the Ambassador Hotel, on the 2/12/05. A large crowd of members and staff went to the dinner on the night. The meal was lovely; we had a starter, then soup, followed by the main course. For the main course we had a choice of Turkey and Ham, Pasta, Salmon, or Beef. For desert we had a choice of Apple pie with cream, cheese cake or Christmas pudding and brandy custard. When the meal was over the music started up. The band, “The Isotopes” was very good, as was the disco that followed it.

On the night, spot prizes were won by members of the clubhouse, Tom W, for his dancing, Patrick for a competition run by the band on the night. It would be fair to say that all members and staff got out on the floor and danced the night away. It is a terrible pity that Michael Flatley was not there on the night, as he would have had to retire looking at some of our dancers. I have to say it was one of the best Christmas dinners held by the Clubhouse. I want to say, on behalf of all the members a big thank you to all the members of staff who spent the night driving us home. There were two other groups having a Christmas party on the same night in the Ambassador Hotel.

In the Sporting year it was a historic victory for the Sky Blues (Chelsea) who won the Premiership for the first time in nearly 50 years. Unfortunately they lost in the semi final of the Champions League to Liverpool & a controversial goal. Liverpool had an unbelievable comeback after being 3-0 down at half time in the Final but they came back to draw level through Gerard, Smicea and Alonso in the second half and in the penalty shootout they won their first European Trophy since 1984.

In National Hunt Racing it was a great year for the Irish with Tom Taafe’s Kicking King winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Willie Mullins Hedgehunter winning the Aintree Grand National. In Rugby Wales went on to win the Grand Slam, Tyrone won the GAA All Ireland in Football and Cork emerged victorious in the Hurling.

In Tennis, Roger Federer won Wimbledon as expected and he threatens to dominate this tournament like Pete Sampras did in the late nineties and early two thousands. In the Ladies it was Venus Williams turn after a few unsuccessful years. In golf, Tiger Woods won the US Masters and the Open Championship with “Monty” rolling back the years posing the biggest threat. Finally, for a change it was not Michael Schumacher on the Podium at the end of the Formula One season, but Fernando Alonso for Williams Renault.

As a Liverpool fan, I was delighted to see them win the Champions League. But since then their form has dropped in the Premier League. They have signed a few players, some good and some bad. Maybe next season they will be a force to be reckoned with, but they face fierce competition from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and of course Arsenal. Maybe next season they will retain the Champions league with a little luck.

Wed 11th Jan Bowling
Sat 21st Jan Art Museum
Fri 27th Jan Employment Dinner Chinese

I would like to tell you a bit about my first social with Platinum Clubhouse. It was an Employment Dinner in The White Water Restaurant in Newbridge. I can remember feeling really excited about going. I knew straight away what I was going to wear. I wore a pin-stripe suit and a white blouse. The blouse was lovely it had tiny white pearls on the front. I also had my hair cut and wore some make-up. I didn’t look too bad at all. I was any man’s fancy!

I know already I am going into too much detail, this is why I don’t like writing letters or anything like this. They usually end up like novels! Anyway, the bus that I usually get home from the Clubhouse, I was going to get to Newbridge for the Employment dinner but I missed it, because I was so busy that day. What to do?

I rang my sister Marie to ask her could she spare a few minutes to bring me over. It was no problem at all. When I went into White Water, I thought it really was a lovely place. I had never being there before. I think I was the last to arrive, because it seemed like everyone was there, staff and members. Everyone looked very well. We had a lovely meal. Then I was caught on the hop! Carmel stood up and told everyone that it was my first social with the Clubhouse and I received applause and was asked to make a speech.

Well I was speechless. But what I didn’t say then, I would like to say now. I would like to thank Carmel, Breda, Tom, Mary, Eileen, Ian and all the members of the Platinum Clubhouse for making me feel so welcome and for giving me a new lease of life.

An old lady picked a winner almost every day of the week and the bookie was curious. “How do you do it Mrs Fitzwilliam”? he asked. I stick a pin in the paper, that’s how I do it she replied. “But you backed four today. How was that?” “I couldn’t find a pin so I used a fork. Bill: “I’ve managed to get rid of the persistent noise in the car”. Ben: “How”? Bill: I’ve let her sit in the front seat.

A Cork hurler died and went to the gates of heaven. A bearded figure at the gates told him to wait until he checked his record. “I see here that you played with St Finbar’s and that you scored the winning goal in an important match.” “That’s correct” said the hurler. “But I also see that you fouled the goalkeeper deliberately. The referee didn’t see it, but we did”. “It’s true said the hurler. I’m sorry about that”. “Oh don’t worry about it. Come on in”. “Thank you St. Peter” said the hurler. “I’m not Peter. I’m Finbar”.Upon this earth a heavenly man

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It’s as well we have a name on something 'new'. All year we have: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc, just repeated, but now we have 2006. All the mistakes in our lives happened ‘last year’. We have a new day but also a New Year. We will all be much wiser now with our new “clean slate”. Well indulge me! – I know that bills and ill health can follow us, but that is part of living, and, without these contrasts from day to day, we would compute very little in the contrasts of good and bad. In this New Year let us be mindful of our environment after the unfortunate big fire in England in December pouring black smoke over a very wide area and even visible from space.

In this mindfulness we should treasure the expectation of a bright new Spring, still keeping in mind the blessings of a temperate climate, being an island detached from landmasses more prone to natures extremes in earthquakes, flooding, or drought. In hoping that ‘enough is enough’ we appreciate our healthy economy and freedom from the poverty that exists in large parts of the world where natural disasters (like in remote areas of Pakistan) are superimposed on existing deprivation.

We will grumble about the rain but I hope it is a bit more “tongue in cheek” than last year, thus appreciating all we have, as contrasted to what, in other circumstances, might be not have in unluckier circumstances of environment or geography! Enjoy 2006 :

I have been very lucky this Advent when my parents came back from China they gave me very good gifts and information. They were in Copenhagen, Beijing and Shanghai. When they went to Birmingham, I went along with my younger brother and made the most of it by spending time with my sister and her children in style. I got back fro Vienna and Bratislava and Prague last night at twelve o'clock. My 3 uncles and family were in very good form and were very generous in every way. My younger brother Colin was in his element as was I. This part of the world is very magical at Christmas time.

Handy Tips

The usual new years resolution Move More Eat Less.

The best new years resolution is don’t make new years resolutions.

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