Ladies Circle

For those of you that have never been to a National Council Weekend, all I can say is don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!!  The national gatherings are great fun and, this September was no different

Friday night is a ‘getting to know you’.  All the new Areas Chairs & guests from across GB&I come together for a meal and entertainment.  Our resident bingo caller Niki Stocken (AKA the National President!) did a sterling job of calling the numbers and remembering the sayings that go with them.  The competition for a full house was fierce!  The key to surviving a national weekend is to remember not to go to bed tooooo late on the first night!

Up bright an early, an all day council meeting probably does not sound like most peoples idea of fun (especially after a late night and a few glasses of wine), but these meetings are a fantastic way of finding out what’s going on locally, nationally and internationally in Circle and to have your say.

Everyone wore pink to tie into the CRUK ‘Join the Fight for Women’s Survival’ theme.  Constructive debate followed on all subjects from the area structure (is there a solution?!?!?!), improving Circle awareness in the UK to finances (OMG!).   Feedback was given on the International Conference in India, the forthcoming ‘Lady Chocolate’ conference in Bruges, the outcome of all of our hard work raising money for India via the SARIs project and the amazing amount of money we have raised in the last twelve months for a variety of charities including our National Charity CRUK.

Meeting done, quick change and off to the masked National Presidents Ball!   A few drinkies, pics in our posh frocks, a quick go on the tombola then dinner is served.

Niki looked stunning and thanked everyone for coming a supporting her charity.  The International President Kjersti Irgens flew in especially to support Niki and say hi to GB&I.

Dinner over and onto the highlight of the evening – Re Take That.  What a bunch of boys!  Better looking than the real thing and sounding pretty good too!!  The room erupted and everyone (well mainly the girls!) got up to dance.  The party carried on into the small hours of the morning, but in true circle fashion everyone made it up for breakfast the next day.

Another national weekend over and time to reflect.  More NEW friends made across the country, a chance to catch up with the old ones, lots of wine drunk, to many photos taken in random dancing poses (See Face Book!) and an absolutely, thoroughly good time had by all!!

See you at the next gathering in February?  Personally I wouldn’t miss it for the world...

Vicky Perry
Stourbridge Circle