While we were still in the grip of snow, ice and freezing temperatures, we had a hot date with all the rest of the volunteers who worked on the Comice at Chartrene. All? Not quite. Some decided that temperatures around -8 degrees were too cold and could not be tempted out, some had to work on the Saturday, and others were not invited due to administrative cock-ups. However there were a good 300 of us in the Centre Rene d'Anjou on the 9th January, prepared to be rewarded for our efforts in August.
I should be clear that this was not a reward for making flowers for floats or for performing the Windmill in Old Amsterdam to massed ranks of rural dwellers. No, this was for running a bar for half a day during the event and for John helping to dismantle stands after the event. Others had done similar tasks and more over the two days and the preparations and dismantling.
The party started at 8pm, but drinks and nibbles didn't arrive until 9pm when we were invited to sitdown and enjoy a film of the event - it was well done, no pictures of Windmills in Amsterdam, but perhaps more views of ploughing matches than I was ready for when waiting for my dinner. At 10pm the speeches started, with thanks to everyone, particularly those who had given up two years of their lives to the organisation of the event. Then at 10:45pm the food -finally. At 11:30pm the dancing started, with a short break for a reprise of the Chartrene performance of YMCA, before champagne and cake at 12:30am, and then more dancing. We left early at 1:45am and the party was going strong - these rural types know how to party and they know how to dance - tangos, waltzes, quicksteps, polkas - for us English types it was culture shock of the most elegant variety.
Apologies for the poor quality of the pictures of the dancing - blame John's mobile phone!
Comments