New Year's Party (Alvaston) with Nina & Faye

 New Year's Party

The festive holiday had finally arrived, and with it, the promise of four days filled with laughter, celebration, and unforgettable memories. We were ready to join the Warner team and fellow partygoers for a New Year celebration like no other. Dinner that evening was filled with festive cheer. We pulled crackers, read out the cheesy jokes, and donned our party hats, all while the restaurant buzzed with conversation and laughter.

The celebrations kicked off with a truly special touch with Warner’s very own traditional piper, made his way through the room playing the bagpipes, filling the air with rich, melodic notes that added a sense of grandeur to the evening. Without further ado we proceeding to follow him outside to for the stunning firework display. Held in the beautiful grounds of the hotel, the night sky lit up with bright colours and sparkling effects. Explosions of golds, reds, and blues reflected off the nearby lake set to lively music adding to the festive atmosphere. 

Legends of Hitzville took to the mic. This popular tribute group brought the timeless sounds of classic Motown and R&B music to life. Known for their energetic performances and dedication to the original hits, the group performed songs from legendary artists like The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson. Their shows are a celebration of the Motown era, with a mix of smooth vocals, tight harmonies, and dynamic choreography that channels the spirit and energy of the original artists. The dance floor was packed, and the energy was incredible, with everyone fully immersed in the music.

As the clock neared midnight, the excitement grew, and when the moment finally arrived, the room erupted with cheers as balloons descended from the ceiling, and silver and gold streamers filled the air. We linked arms and sang Auld Lang Syne together, a tradition that perfectly captured the spirit of the evening. The celebrations continued as we joined in with the rest of the guests forming the biggest conga line! 

With smiles on our faces, we made our way to the afternoon pantomime, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The show was a riot of colour, laughter, and audience participation. From shouting “Oh no it isn’t” to “Oh yes, it is,” everyone got involved, with some of the funniest moments coming from Dame Trot’s eccentric costumes and crude jokes. We were all in fits of giggles throughout, and it was hard not to be caught up in the light-hearted fun.  

We were so happy to be able to get our photos taken with the cast! What a great memento! 

Every evening we were wowed by some great entertainment. A highlight was the show Musicals Now, compiling of some of our most loved West End shows including Mary Poppins, Oliver, Joseph and Les Mis. We couldn’t help but sing along and we were captivated by their slick dance moves and impressive costume changes. 

Killer Darts was on the agenda and Michael and Jason proudly took on the responsibility for Team Jolly. With the other hotel guests, it really was a quick-fire round with lives being lost just as fast! Not for our two boys though! They did us proud with Jason coming in second and Michael, won with 87 points! An outstanding effort! It was then down to the wire on the pool table with Anna vs Mikey. She wasn’t going to give up without a good fight and her final shot saw her being crowned victorious.

Down in the sport hall we picked our lucky bat ready to take each other on in a friendly yet competitive few games of table tennis. The game quickly became exciting as some excellent shots and rallies were being smashed back and forth. Then we participated in a new game of Mölkky. This is a Finnish game that’s easy to learn. The aim of the game is to knock down wooden pins to gain points.

To celebrate New Years Day we celebrated the occasion with a glass of Bucks Fizz, the perfect fizzy pick-me-up after the previous night's festivities.

 

There was no time to rest, as our itinerary for the day was packed with activities. At the archery shed, we were met by our instructor. After we all donned protective arm guards, we were handed our bows and arrows, and we took our places at the targets. It was surprising just how quickly we each became accurate with our shots! The friendly competition between us intensified as our instructor called out target areas to aim for, and we tried to hit the coloured sections to score the most points. Afterwards, we headed to the sports hall for some laser pistol shooting. Armed with high-tech laser pistols, we aimed for the bullseye, competing to see who could hit the target most accurately. It was a thrilling activity that had us all laughing and focusing hard, trying to outdo one another. 

 We made our way to the indoor pool. The water was inviting, and we spent time alternating between swimming laps and relaxing in the warm jacuzzi, relaxing after a day full of activity. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful, the perfect way to unwind and enjoy each other’s company in a more relaxed setting.