New Year's Party- Gunton Hall
Our New Year celebrations started with a bang with an amazing firework display by the lake. We donned our warm coats, grasped our hot apple cider and went along to watch in awe. It was a magnificent display, so many colours whizzing and popping through the sky creating lots of ‘oohs and ahhs’.
We changed into our ‘glad rags’ for a special night and we all looked amazing with our glittery dresses and dapper suits! Our festive dinner tables were adorned with party paraphernalia including festive masks and colourful crackers containing party hats and the good old jokes. We enjoyed a sumptuous three course meal and had fun pulling our crackers and relaying the jokes whilst soaking up the party atmosphere.
A bagpiper then joined us wearing traditional Scottish attire; it was wonderful to listen to the pipes being played and was definitely a highlight of the night.
The entertainment team put on a great show ‘Call Me’, celebrating three decades of great British music from the Beatles through to Oasis; music that we all love! This was followed by a Soul and Motown singer Uche Eke, his voice was amazing and kept us shaking our stuff on the dance floor. With the clock chiming midnight, the balloons were released from above our heads and the atmosphere was electric. Flags were flying and we joined together and sang Auld Lang Syne and wished each other a Happy New Year.
A morning was spent perfecting our line dancing routines. Kay, Tammy and Trisha shone at this and managed to master the steps perfectly.
We chose to join in with a game of shuffleboard in the sports hall. We used cues to push weighted discs, sending them gliding down a narrow court, to a marked scoring area. There were many contenders, and we were all feeling very competitive. This was a really fun game and we had to be quite skilful. Our hero of the game was Mikey who successfully pushed his discs into the final.
Excitedly we took our seats as it was panto time- Oh yes, it was! Little Red Riding Hood had us joining in with the classic retorts of ‘it’s behind you’, ‘oh no, it isn’t’ and ‘oh yes, it is’ and booing the big, bad wolfs’ antics and of course laughing out loud at the Dames panto jokes!
Relaxation was next on the agenda. A dip in the pool, a sauna and steam. We know how to live!
After a hearty breakfast and chose to venture out in the jolly bus to enjoy a game of tenpin bowling in Lowestoft. We played boys v girls and had great fun trying to beat each other’s scores. Neil was the boys champion scoring 119 and Kay was the girls champion scoring 97.
It was time for an afternoon of magic. Mike Shortland is well-known from Northampton and stars in many UK shows and aboard cruise liners. He also appeared on Britain’s Got Talent. There was lots of audience participation, and it was truly amazing to watch.
One of our favourite shows was a performance from Edison Lighthouse, an English pop band, best known for their 1970 hit single ‘Love Grows’. They didn’t disappoint, we danced all night to their 70’s music.
