Ladies Probus Christmas Meeting

The Christmas meetings just seem to go on and on.  Not that I’m complaining, mind you.  After a Christmas BBQ with another group the previous day, it was then time for the final meeting of the year for the Levin Ladies Probus Club.  Our speaker was Debbie from the Levin AP&I Showgrounds, who told us about her interesting places of work before moving to Levin.  She is also a speech coach, and gave us tips for speaking clearer, with the emphasis on breathing, standing tall, clear diction.  She had us all standing up straight and practising several exercise phrases which she uses for her students! 

The Christmas Cake was then cut by one of our foundation members, before we enjoyed our tasty lunch.  Instead of our usual meeting seating at long tables, the round tables were nicely set up instead in groups of eight, making it a more cosy atmosphere.  With the addition of Christmas Crackers,chocolates, and a bowl of Punch, we could tell it was going to be a very festive meal indeed. 

And it was – we enjoyed hot ham, stuffed turkey roll, and plenty of hot vegetables.  Followed by Christmas Pudding and custard, mini pavlovas, and fruit salad.

Individual Christmas Puddings

It was a lovely meal, and although we probably didn’t really need that dessert, of course we ate it.  Jillian, Dot and I raised our glasses of non alcoholic Punch while one of our friendly table mates kindly took a photo for us.  This was our final Ladies Probus meeting for the year, and like most groups, we won’t get together again until next February.

Jillian, Dot and Jenny

Ladies Probus Group

It was quite a momentous morning as I was one of three new members inducted into the Levin Ladies Probus today.  As required, I had been attending meetings as a visitor for the last three months, and today was induction day.  Six of us were invited up onto the stage, the three prospective members and their sponsors.  We were warmly welcomed into the group, given our name badge and set of rules, and then presented with a pretty rose wrapped in cellophane each.  Many thanks to Dot for being my sponsor, and thanks to the Levin Ladies for welcoming me into their group.  (Robin and I are also members of the Levin Combined Probus.)

I’m now an official member

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Probus:  An association for active retirees who join together in clubs, to keep their minds active, expand their interests and to enjoy friendship.

Meeting up with a Beefeater

I’m almost an official member of the Ladies Probus, after attending three meetings, so I was more than welcome to attend the Christmas Lunch celebrations.  (I understand that I will be officially inducted at the first meeting in the New Year).  We had a short meeting, and our speaker was former Beefeater, Patrick Nolan.  He kept us entertained as he told us told us how a colonial boy from Marton became a Beefeater in the Tower of London.  Patrick joined the army at the tender age of 15, and had a long career, serving in Vietman and other overseas postings.  On a trip to the UK, Patrick and his wife took a tour around the Tower of London.  Listening the the Beefeater talk to his tour group, Patrick decided that was the job for him.  Some years later after a lot of correspondence to and fro, he was accepted as a probationer, buddied with a mentor, and the intensive training started.

Mixing and mingling with the ladies

The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners in the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right, working 7 days on and 2 days off.  The very first yeoman was appointed way back on 15th August 1100. 

After completing his training and learning the stories word for word, Patrick was finally ready to be let loose on the paying public.  He was sworn in at St James Palace, becoming Yeoman number 351, and worked for 16 years on the job.

The beautiful ceremonial  red State Dress uniform is worn on special occasions.  The embroidery was done at the Royal College of Needleworkers who use silk thread wrapped with 24 ct gold thread, and the outfit costs upwards of a whopping 13,000 pounds.  It is worn with red tights, red breeches, rosettes, a white pleated neck ruff, and topped with a black hat.

  The State Dress Tunic

Embroidery details

I sweet talked Patrick into coming over to our table and having his photo taken with us.  In fact, he didn’t take too much persuading at all.

Dot, Patrick, Julie and Jenny

After all that excitement it was time to move into the restaurant for our lunch.  The tables were  beautifully decorated, and the food was great - hot ham, chicken and plenty of vegetables.  And for dessert there was a choice of pavlova and fruit salad, or Christmas pudding and custard.  I’m a Chrissie pudding sort of girl, so it was an easy choice for me.

Time for lunch

A cup of coffee and a slice of Christmas cake later, we were full to the brim.  It was a very enjoyable day indeed.