Letters to Ann

Dear Ann,

I have been attending Prime Timers for more than the past decade & yet this was the first Christmas I have been able to attend the special luncheon & share in the fun & the pleasure. Since I joined this great organisation, I have spent Christmas with Philip & Greg in LA.

I was looking forward to the occasion as I had never been there to see all the members receive their little Christmas Pudding & the babies proudly put their cellophane heads up making them look good as they were placed around all the tables.

Prior to this, Cheryl was picking up Sandra & myself to attend the luncheon & we had arranged to go for coffee at Micheles’ after the event. Luckily I had my gift packages all arranged when they arrived early, to say our gift giving would need to be held beforehand because of other things which had eventuated.

So I sat them down, or at least Sandra sat, but bubbly Cheryl had too much on her mind to sit. I always have a few little gifts in the bags so I knew it would take a little time. To save time I simply took a photo of each with their bags rather than a myriad of snaps. Even though a little hurried, all went well with us all enjoying our surprises.

Christmas gift giving: Cheryl displays her bag

Cheryl had for me a calendar with very old pictures of Newcastle in its young day: very historical & very interesting. Sandra had a wrapped gift for me for a surprise, plus a $50 note that I had great pleasure in spending.

I receive a catalogue called Innovations & they had some new things which greatly interested me, particularly for the garden. When people give me money I like to purchase something specific so that it reminds me of the giver.

My new garden is predominantly sporting the colour blue amongst the greenery – blue cushions on the little seat, a blue Hydrangea & a number of tall & stately blue Agapanthus. The catalogue showed a blue Peacock with showy feathers of green & blue & his blue round tummy was a glass bowl with solar powered lights which changed colours to green, blue & red.

Likewise I was also able to purchase a set of three blue lights on a pole that are also solar powered & change colours as well. These are now showing their power to all & sundry that come to my house in the darkness of night & they are so pretty. I love them & they will always remind me of Sandra.

I can’t remember all that I gave to Sandra for Christmas, but among the gifts was a very nice bracelet that matched a necklace & ear ring set I had given her on her birthday. The predominant gift I remember giving to Cheryl was a matching pair of little gardening pots to put in her garden that she appeared to love.

With all that excitement over, we hurried off to the RSL Club where several round tables were set up with the sixty baby Christmas Puddings taking pride of place & a delicious meal awaiting us. We could go back for seconds & eat all that we could eat, although I find my intake these days to be a little limiting to what they used to be.

That is, until it comes to the Pavlova! I must admit then to a feeling of liking more! There wasn’t one person there who did not take full advantage of the repast put in front of us & enjoy it.

Also I always find that round tables are the best when it comes to a large group & we chatted away among ourselves around the table.

Sandra, Dawn and Cheryl at Prime Timer’s Dec 2016

Joan, our leader, mentioned several things including the Christmas puddings with the mention that “our Dawn made them all for us.” which was a lovely accolade. I know all the members appreciate them.

One member came up to me afterwards introducing herself & saying how she had often wished I had been there in recent years so that she had the opportunity of thanking me personally for such a delightful pudding. Apparently she is not able to attend the monthly meetings & I appreciated the fact that she made it a point to voice her appreciation at the Christmas party.

Our luncheon had the air of festivity & I enjoyed being part of the festivities.

My years associated with Prime Timers have for sure been very happy years & I am proud to be associated with the Salvation Army in this way.

All my love always, Dawn XOXO

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