Volunteer Christmas Party

Due to the car being off the road we walked onto the main Kariba Avenue planning to get a taxi to the party, the road was at a stand still as the president was travelling, also the baton was on route to Senegambia. We decided to wait to see the president and baton, chatting to one of the runners at the traffic lights where he was waiting to take over the baton, he is back here from England where he is currently studying. After a twenty minute wait we decided to continue our journey as we will be able to see the president another day and the baton had been stopped on route due to this. When we arrived at Sukey’s we were handed some mulled wine and a mince pie, the decorations which the children had helped to put up were very festive including the nativity scene which they had drawn and stood up. Abigail then changed as she had been given a green Christmas tree dress by Sukey which belonged to one of the volunteers which I had managed to alter so it fit better. There was the usual crowd of volunteers including some of the VSO office staff and from the UK the VSO country director who put in an appearance. We ate a lovely buffet of chicken Albodo which is a Philipino dish, benechin, lamb curry, coleslaw, grilled chicken and fish, potato salad, pasta, rice and sausage rolls and drank the usual Julbrew. Then we had a special visit from Santa Clause Abigail and Bradley were very excited as he was reading their letter which they had sent to him, eventually when we were all gathered around Santa he gave out the secret Santa presents. Bradley was very pleased to receive a football Abigail some wobbly rulers and stencil kit, myself I was given a fabric bag which had been made and Paul a can of Becks lager. After a stiff Whisky Santa went to tend his Reindeer and we next sang some Christmas carols accompanied by Max on guitar and Nap on the drums. When we sang the twelve days of Christmas Angela gave us the Australian version which was very funny, Kangaroos, Plata pusses and Wombats spring to mind. By this time Bradley was very tired so I laid him down on Sukey’s bed to sleep. Next was a quiz which was in three parts, music, general and picture clues we all split up into teams and the best team name would receive extra points. Paul’s team Tampon won best name as an anagram made up of their team initials. After the quiz we shared out the Christmas cake which Georgia’s friend had brought out from Marks & Sparks and drank some egg nog which was made by Canadian Courtney and tasted gorgeous. With the night coming to a close and all of us having enjoyed ourselves including Abigail who was still jumping around we woke up Bradley to go home as it was now 11.00pm.

Secret Santa

Santas little helpers

Sukey & Santa